Column: Outport life N.L.: On love, laughter and, letting go

Dave White

Published: Feb 21 at 11:57 p.m.

Updated: Feb 22 at midnight

Dave White - The Western Star

Laughter, too, needs prevail as part of a lasting social fabric that also finds honesty and humility where people gather and unite in their quest of reprieve and respite from challenges facing the many, in Bay of Islands just as anywhere else. Not so much in secreted places.

In hometown Bay of Islands, 2018 carries reminders of who we are, or stand to become, as individual trials and tribulations of the age are seen evidenced from a weekend post made in social media.

Jamie White confirmed this week that a large quantity of heating oil had been stolen from a fuel tank outside a vacant old house in McIvers that he and wife Susan are in the process of refurbishing.

The property, located by the local cemetery on the otherwise uninhabited stretch of Lower Cove Road in McIvers, showed evidence of footprints encircling the house, something which drew their attention to the tank. Checking it out, their 200-gallon tank was empty.

To warrant official investigation, they were instructed by the RCMP to lodge a formal written report and to keep their ears open for any similar complaints of theft from local and area residents. The couple suspects the once-full tank may have been subjected to a number of separate raids since they’d stopped their work there around Christmastime.

White recognizes that any culprits involved are unlikely to be apprehended, but stands otherwise “bothered” that someone would resort to such measures at all.

“If it was someone who needed oil that bad to keep themselves warm, all they would have had to do was ask us (for help),” White said. “I’d give anybody anything if I could to help them, and so would Susan.”

He did say, however, that while any illegal intrusion remains personally unbecoming of such perpetrators, such misadventure can be potentially riskier otherwise were they to be caught in the act.

Letting go, in forgiveness, is entirely another matter. Like shorted deadlines in dog years, honesty and loyalty wholly remain among truest friends and reliable partners.

Beginning Feb. 28 and concluding March 3, the first of four 2018 Newfoundland and Labrador men’s team darts championship tournaments will take place with Corner Brook’s Press Club challenging for provincial Division A honours in Cow Head. The Press Club claimed the Western the zone title in Summerside in January.

Indeed, a second Press Club entry will also be zone representatives in provincial B after winning the Western playdown at the Royal Canadian Legion in Deer Lake in early February. The provincial men’s division championship event is set for March 21-24 in St. John’s.

Led by tournament MVP Darrell Brett and ace finisher Blaine Sheppard, Curling Ranger Lounge went the distance claiming top honours in the Western Newfoundland Darts Association Division C playdowns at Cox’s Cove; and, will vy for the provincial in Stephenville March 7-10.

This past weekend, Irishtown won the Division D zone championship beating Deer Lake in the playoff final at the Curling Lions Club. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 13 in Corner Brook is host for the provincial D tourney March 14-17.

Curling Lions Club Snowmobile Rally 2018 in support of the Mount Moriah Fire Department and The Max Simms Lions Camp will be held Saturday, March 3.

Billed as a “Fantastic Day with Family and Friends”, the event starts 10 a.m. at the new fire hall on Serpentine Road for the snowy backcountry ride to Gallants in the south, returning to the Lions Club for lunch and presentation of awards and prizes, including recognition for most pledges collected.

Sponsor sheets are available from the Lions Club, or by contacting Jim Locke (630-0254).